New G-G pledges dignity and dedication

"I simply want to say to the people of Australia how very humbled and privileged I feel to have been appointed by Her Majesty the Queen, on the advice of the Prime Minister, to be Governor-General of this terrific country of ours.

I am of course, very, very much aware of the sad and very difficult circumstances under which this appointment has been made. But I want to give my total commitment to the Australian people that I will endeavour to be a Governor-General of the people and for the people and to carry out the office with dignity and dedication.

I would also like to pay a special tribute to my wife Marlena, who has volunteered to come out of a very pleasant retirement, so to speak, to once again join me in what is undoubtedly a very demanding and high office.

She has done this now for 36 years in a series of very senior appointments in the military, as Governor of Western Australia and twice as Administrator of the Commonwealth. And for her to join me again and be at my side is wonderful and I thank her and my children for supporting me in this decision.

My final comment is to all the young people of this country no matter where they are, but particularly in the outback, in the Aboriginal communities, in the mining communities, and particularly to those young people who don't grow up in an environment of wealth or privilege. I would like to say to them if they look at my background, the message to them is that because of the type of country we are . . . that each one of them can aspire to being a governor-general or to aspire to being whatever they wish in this country.");document.write("

advertisement

");
}
}
// -->

It's a great privilege to have been appointed Governor-General."

This is an edited version of Major-General Jeffery's speech yesterday.